Plane crash lands in parking lot

On Saturday morning a small plane clipped the roof of the Comox Valley Animal Hospital on Dyke Road, then crash landed in the hospital’s parking lot, hitting one parked car, and flipping over onto another car. There were no occupants in either car. The pilot of the plane was conscious when extricated by emergency workers and transported to hospital.

“He had his lags trapped, so the crews had to cut the aircraft away to pry it apart and get him him out,” said Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex. “He is conscious and has been taken to St. Joe’s. Whether he is going to go elsewhere from there, we are not sure yet.”

Cause of the crash is still under investigation. It was the second plane incident in Courtenay in three days. On Thursday a small plane ran into the fence while taxiing down the runway at the Airpark. There were no injuries reported in that incident.

Saturday’s incident marks the 10th plane-related incident Bardonnex has responded to in his seven and a half years as Courtenay Fire Chief.